Method of and machine for cleaning flax, hemp, and other fibers



G. A. LOWRY 1,716,589

I METHQD OF AND MACHIfiE FOR'CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBEfiS "FiledJune 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR June 11, 1929.

c. A. LOWRY METHOIS OF AND MACHINE FOR CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12. 1926 i IIIIIIIIIHHH wwl ' ,ZINVENTOR TTO .RNEY:

June 11, 1929. G, A QW 1,716,589

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBERS Filed June 12, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN June 11, 1929. LQWRY 1 716589 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, AND O'IKER FIBERS Filed June 12. 1926 5 sheets-sheet 4 Arr yf 111111511, 1929. G, A, LOWRY 1,716,589

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jun 12. 1926 IN VEN TOR Patented June 11, 1929.

1 atlases UNITED STATES PATENT @EFEQE.

snoaen A. LOWRY, or NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR T0 rannroonn INGORPORATED,1 TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF N W YORK.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CLEANING FLAX, HEMP, ,AND OTHER FIBERS.

Application filed June 12, 1926. Serial No. 115,460.

This invention relates to a machine for My mode of treatment also renders possible the product-ion of a uniform fiber product without waste or tow and the process is applicable for the final cleaning steps after above described.

retting in addition to the precleaning steps I further provide a machine primarily for preeleaning the green or freshly cut and unretted plant stalks and whereby my new mode of treatment is rendered possible. The prime purpose of this invention is to reduce the cost of separating the fiber from the woody portion of theplant stalks such as hemp, flax and the like.

The invention serves further to Obtain a quicker result and a superior and more uniform long fiber product.

My machine is devised for and is capable of bunching or folding the plant stalk upon itself so as to positively break the woody core into short lengths.

These lengths are stripped or pushed out of the fibrous material, and the final fiber product is fully cleaned. and straightened, in which condition it is delivered.

In preparing the fiber of flax or hemp, it has heretofore been the universal custom to harvest the plant stalks and tie them in bundles for submerging in water to thus subject the plant stalks to a natural retting, that is, the plant stalks are tied into bundles and submerged in water, where they are allowed to remain for bacterial development and until the bacterial action has loosened the fiber from the woody portion by reason of converting or consuming the gum which holds these parts together. also practiced.

Dew rotting is Likewise many chemical methods for artificially producing the bace terial ferment have been devised. It is found however, that the natural rotting process is far superior to the other known processes in that fiber so treated has many times the tensile strength of fibers produced by the artificial processes.

By my improved method and machine for thus handling fiax and the like, I remove the greater portion, up to ninety per cent (90%) of the woody material from the fiber material. A. sufficient amount of gum is left, however, on the fiber to insure proper natural rotting when the partially cleaned fiberis subjected to the natural rotting processp As the greater portion of the more porous woody bulk has been removed, the problem of handling the partially cleaned fiber is greatly facilitated, because the reduced bulk absorbs proportionally less water and is more readily removed and dried than when. the entire plant stalk is thus handled. Fiber thus precleaned al lows shipping to a central retting plant where trained attendants can supervise the processand thus a better and more uniform fiber is produced than is possible under the old method where each farmer supervised his own retting.

It has, moreover, been found that certain, local conditions are favorable to the best results in natural retting. As. a specific illustration, it is known that Irish linen pose sesses certain desired qualities, and that fiber subjected to the natural rotting process in the river Lys in Belgium is superiorv to all other fibers, so that when Irish flax produced by the natural retting process brought L150 per ton fiax from the Lys brought L300 per ton. My mode of pie-cleaning the fiber therefore permits transportation of the fiber to render possible its economic handling and superior treatmentfor the production of the best grades of flax. I 7

Other advantages will appear hereinafter and I willnow describe a mode of operation as carried out by a specific apparatus which is capable ofperforming my invention.

The fiber bearing plant stalks such as flax, hemp and the like, are harvested in a known or usual manner. These stalks are then subjected to a pro-cleaning action for the removal ofthe greater proportion of its woody core. This pie-cleaning may be done in the field where the fiber is grown, to save cost. of handling. The partially cleaned fiber is then subjected to the retting process at appropriate stations and under skilled supervision, for. the production of the best grades of linen obtainable and with no loss of fiber material as waste or tow.

'I- will now describe my apparatus which isv suitable for advantageously and effectively carrying out my improved method.

In the accompanying drawings:

F l is a view in side elevation of my improved apparatus; p

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

F 3 is a view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

F iis a view in side elevation taken from the side opposite that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the final cleaning and scraping device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the fiber carrier and scraping mechanism in action;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a portion of the carrier and cleaning and scraping mechanism Fig. 8 is a View of themechanism for im-' parting'reverse and intermittent movements to the breaker rollers;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view somewhat diagrammatic and illustrating the action in general on the fiber as it is caused to pass through the apparatus;

Fig. 10 is a view of the horizontal feed rolls showing-the action on the fiber stalks after said rolls have gone through their reverse phase, and the material is in position of the feed mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a view of my spreader roll.

Like numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

The essential features of my apparatus include the plant stalk feed mechanism for properly distributing and feeding the mato be moved forward by the crowding action -terial forward intermittently. I also pro vide means for holding the material against the reverse movement of the rolls so as to cause the material topile up during the reverse operation of the said feed and breaker rolls. From this position, the folded" material is fed and crowded forward through the first pair of rolls to a series of progressively smaller pairs of breaker rolls. All the rolls are arranged in pairs and are provided with mechanism for intermittent reverse and forward movements. WVith these rolls cooperates the fiber cleaning and scraping mechanism for cleaning and straightening thefibe r material. "The cleaning and straightening action is accomplished bythe scraper operating constantly in the same direction with progressively increasing intensity to thereby effect a thorough cleaning of the fiber and to deliver the cleaned fiber in smooth, straight lengths, without loss of fiber as waste or tow.

I have discovered that my mode of operation and apparatus as herein disclosed, will successfully and satisfactorily preclean the freshly harvested and uncured plant stalks of such fiber bearing plants as flax, hemp and the like. The plant stalks are preferably, though not necessarily fed into the machine with the root end forward. The operation of the rolls and coactingparts is such that the woody core is removed, and the final cleaning and scraping of the fiber is constantly towards the head end and away from the root, whereby the fiber is cleaned without being stripped or disrupted, as will be explained more fully below.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide a feed mechanism 20 for feeding the fiber bearing plant stalks 21 between the horizontal pair of breaker rolls 22 and 23. The feed mechanism comprises a table 24 having a drive pulley 25 and an idler pulley 26 over which a conveyor apron 27 operates to feed the fiber bearing plant stalks to the feed table or hopper platform 28 and throughthe hopper gate 29. A spreader roll 21, having spirals as shown in Fig. 11, and driven by any suitable means as cogs 25, from cogs on pulley 25, (Fig. 4) operates to distribute or spread out the material 21 over the feed table 28. The hopper gate 29 is held in position by a tension spring 30 so as to permitfree forward movement of the fiber bearing material 21, but to prevent reverse movement of the material under the conditions described below.

Rolls and 23 are provided with substantially equally spaced flutings 31 between which-the plant stalks 21 are bent or broken in the first instance. Immediately beneath the horizontal feed rolls 22 and a3 are arranged a pair of crusher rolls 32 and These rolls are also provided withspaced fiutings 3st and are otherwise similar to the feed rolls and 23, except that said crusl'ier rolls are of somewhat smaller diameter and the flutings are a little closer than the llu tings 3l'of the preceding rolls. These rolls are arranged to receive the fiber material horizontally from thefeed rolls and a baflle plate 35 guides the material on to said crusher rolls. Immediately beneath the crusher rolls 32- and is another pair of crusher and stripper rolls 36 and 37 having fiutings 38. These rolls and flutings are identical with the preceding rolls and flutings except that the rolls are somewhat smaller and the fiutings are a little closer than in the preceding rolls and flutings. A fourth pair of roller-s 39 and 40 having flat ings 41 exactly like the preceding rolls, except smaller, forms the final stripping rolls. Obviously if necessary, additional rolls might be added without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and the flutings of the last pair of rolls may be spaced further apart for free delivery of the fiber.

As appears best from Figs. 2 and 3, rolls and obvious adjusting means in the form of springs 44 holding guides 44 by adjustable bolts 45. This arrangement permits a certain degree of adjustment between the flutings of pairs of rolls as the fiber material is fed therethrough. The fixed rolls are positively driven from the main drive pulley 46 and shaft 47 which carries a bell crank 48 and link 49 to operate the rack bar 50, the teeth, 51, of which engage the teeth 52 of the gear 53. This gear is freely mounted on the journal 54 of roll 22. On the opposite faces of gear 53 pawls or dogs 55 and 56 a e pivotally mounted to extend in opposing di rections. These dogs engage the respective star gears 57 and 58 which are fixedly-secured on journal 54. A spring 59 holds dog 55 in engagement when the rackbar moves downward, that is, the feed roll 22 is moved forward through 180 and the rack bar 50 moves it through said are. Vith the upward or reverse movement of the raclobar dog 55 will be idled and duringone-half of the reverse stroke of the rack bar the tail of dog 56 rides on the trip bracket 60 which temporarily holds the dog 56 out of engagement with its star gear 58. When, however, the tail of dog 56'is freed by reason of having passed beyond bracket 60 the dog will engage its corresponding star gear and cause the roll 22 to reverse its movement through 90 or through such extent of the are as may be determined by reason of the adjusted position of the trip bracket 60. This action therefore causes roll 22 to move forward say 180 and backward say 90. As is best shown by Fig. 1, rolls 22, 32, 36 and 39 are provided with gears 22, 32, 36 and 39 of equal size. These gears are driven by inter meshing gears 61. The apron drive pulley 25 has a gear 25 which is driven from 22 by means of a gear 62. This arrangement accordingly causes all the rolls and the apron driven pulley to move in unison The apron, however, moves in 'forward direction only. Since the flutings of the adjustable rolls mesh with the flutings of the fixed or drive rolls all the rolls will move in unison backwards and forwards as explained above. This action will cause the fiber to be folded and piled up immediately back of each set of rolls when the rolls are reversed. The forward movement of the apron is, however, a little faster than that of the breaker rolls. The material, therefore, is fed forward in the folded or bunched condition, shown for example in Fig. 10, and is urged forward, thereby supplying a surplusage of material for the succeeding rolls.

As shown by Figs. 1 and 4 the main holding frame is provided with a suitable base 70, to which the uprights 42 and 43 of said frame are secured by suitable bolts 71 and braces 7 2 and 73. A conveyor frame 74 having a drive pulley 7 5 and an idler pulley 7 6 section and are riveted or otherwiseattached to the chains by holding brackets 80. Guide bars 81 hold the conveyor in proper relation to the cleaning or scraping devices 82.

These devices comprise plates which are rigidly secured to a pivotally mounted holding bar 83 in an adjustable holding member 84, at each extremity of the holding'bar. Members 84 are adjustably held in frame 85, the bars of which are held in spaced relation to the conveyor and the conveyor frame by any suitable means as brackets 86 and 8?. Suitable tension means, as springs 88, constantly impel the cleaning members or scrapers 82 in the direction against the travel of the conveyor and over the fiber material 21 which is carried-on the conveyor in the manner more fully described below. Stop pins 89 or their equivalent on the holding member 84 limit the movements of the scrapers. A support 90 holds the de vice in adjustable position. The conveyor is driven from the main drive pulley 46 by suitable means, as a chain 91 operating over sprockets 92 on the main drive and sprocket 93 on the drive pulley 75. It will be noted the holding blocks are adjustable for ad-- j usting the position of the scrapers. Frame is also adjustable and the distance between said frame and said conveyor is less at the discharge end 1) than at the feed end E for the purpose to be explained presently.

The mode of operation of my fiber cleaning or precleaning machine is as follows For precleaning flax or hemp and other fiber producing straw or plant stalks so as to eliminate the coarse and bulky woody material, for the purpose andin the manner herein set forth. I place the straw or plantstalks on the feed conveyor, preferably with the root end forward, so that said plants are spread out and fed through the hopper gate and between the feed rolls 22 and 23 in the manner described above. In some cases the head end may be fed first; The action of the breaker rolls will cause even the green and uncured straw to be bent or broken between the flutings 31. The pairs of rolls are advancedapproximately half a revolution, more or less, in conformity with the forward movement of therack bar gear and its advancing star gear 57 as explained above. As the rack bar recedes, dog 56 will become effective during half the return movement as explained above, and therefore the feed rolls (as well as the other rolls) are reversed only to one-half of the return movement. The feed gate being pressed in closed position, will cause the material to crowd up, "as explained above. With the forward movement of the apron and the 'rolls the'fiber material will ;be fed forward in a folded condition. The bunched material will be crushed as therollsagain ad- .vance,;an.d the broken, woody pieces .will be stripped from the fiber folds with each succeedingpair of rolls. .From this it will be clear that the firstpair of rollsacts largely as breakers, while thesucceeding pairs of rollsact largely as stripping means to separate the short-broken woody core from thc fiber. In this manner is the woody core of the zfibcr stalk broken :Rlld in condition tobe easily separated from the fiber.

The fiber is'delivered from the last pair of rolls directly to the cleaner and scraper device to be fully cleaned and straightened. For thispurpose isv the fiber material caught onithe cross pieces or holding bars 7 9 andis thus carried tor-wardand broughtinto contact with the first-scraperblade. By reason of thegreater distance between the conveyor and thescraper holding .frame at end :13), the first scraper blade will .rub lightly but swiftly over the fiber surface. The next blade is a littlecloser than the preceding one, andtherefore cuts a'little deeper, and thus gives .the material a harder rub. This action is repeated,'that.is, the scraping actionis more intense with each succeeding bl-ade as thematerial progresses through the cleaner. This action notonly removes the broken woody core pieces, -.or shives, .to thereby preclean the fiber material, but it also straightens the fiber and delivers clean,

smooth fiber lengths.

It will be noted thatthefiber is deposited loosely on the conveyor .andthat it is'held bythe next succeeding scraper-blade while .its preceding blade is active. "This action follows from the position of .the blade so that each successive blade becomes ,active, in.regular succeeding order. By reasonof .this arrangement the fiber material gradurally shifts-.itsposition with relation..to the cross bars 79 so that all parts of the fiberare cleaned and scraped. Since the cleaning action is onlyzinone direction and towards thehead. end, thereis no waste of fiber as 1tOW.,OI the like, and .the fiber ,material is retained in full lengths.

.Asstated abovepthe pre-cleaning thus effected, isagreatsaving and is believed to be. revolutionary in the manner of handling flax and likefiber producing plants. While .the pre-cleaningis thorough, there is, however, suflicient. gulnmaterialleft in the fiber to insureperfect retting when the natural retting process is employed.

Inthe disclosure thus "far given, I have .spoken only of-pre-cleaning thefiber. Itis understood,.however, that my apparatus is capable ofeifecting a final and complete cleaningof theretted plant stalks, if that is. desired.

,Insome instances, the .feed apron 27 and drive-maybe omitted. The materialis then fed directly onto ,table28.

Havingnow described my invention, what I claim as new and'useful, of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method treating flax and similar fiber bearing plant stalks which comprises subjecting fiber bearing plant stalks to ,repeated breaking actions to break, and then; submitting said broken and crumpled plant stalks to an intermittent brushing action in constantly the same direction, fromhthe root end to the head end for removing broken woody core or shives.

2. The method. of treating flax andsimilar fiber bearing plant stalks which comprises subjecting fiber bearing plant stalks to re peated breaking actions to break, andthen submit-ting said broken and crumpled plant stalks to progressively increasing rubbing actions in the same direction while moving the material in the opposite direction ferremoving broken woody core or shives.

3. The method of removing non-fibrous matter and precleaning the fiber .material obtained from fiber producing plants which comprises disrupting the woody material, andthenseparating said disrupted material from the fiber material by intermittent. brushing actions operating in the same direction over the fiber with increasing intensity, beginning at the root end, and ending at the head end of the plant stalk.

5. in an apparatus of the class described,

a succession of rolls arranged in pairs of successively decreasing diameter, means for operating said pairs oi rolls in opposite directions at substantially the same journal e velocity to thereby break the woody portion offiber bearing plants inteshort lengths and strip the broken, woody portion from the fiber portion, and means .for combing the fiber with varying intensity but in the same I direction from its'root end to its head end.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a succession of rolls arranged in pairs of successively decreasing diameter, means for operating said pairs of rolls in. opposite directions at substantially the same journal velocity to thereby break the woody portion of fiber bearing plants into short lengths and strip the bro zen woody portion from the fiber portion,-means for intermittently feed- 1 ing fiber bearing plants to said rolls to thus partially clean the fiber, means for moving the fiber portion uniformly in the same general direction, and means for imparting a succession of quick stroking actions to successive lengths of fiber.

7 In an apparatus of the class described, a succession of rolls arranged in pairs of successively decreasing diameter, means for operating said pairs of rolls in opposite directions at substantially the same journal velocity to thereby break the woody portion of fiber bearing plants into short lengths and strip the broken woody portion from the fiber portion, means for intermittently feeding fiber bearing plants to said rolls to thus partially clean the fiber, means for moving the fiber portion uniformly in the same general direction, with the root end forward and means for combing the fiber from its root end to its head end with progressively varying intensity.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a succession of rolls arranged in pairs of successively decreasing diameter, means for operating said pairs of rolls in opposite directions at substantially the same journal velocity to thereby break the woody portion of fiber bearing plants into short lengths an d strip the broken woody portion from the fiber portion, means for intermittently feeding fiber bearing plants to said rolls to thus partially clean the fiber, means including an apron carrier for conveying the fiber in a constant direction, and means for imparting a succession of successively greater intensive strokes along the length of the fiber from its root end to its head end to thereby preclean the fiber without loss of fiber as tow.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a succession of rolls arranged in pairs of successively decreasing diameter, means for feeding fiber bearing plant stalks to said rolls, a hopper gate for allowing free passage of the plant stalks in forward direction, and obstructing the passage in reverse direction, means for operating said pairs of rolls in opposite directions at substantially the same journal velocity to thereby break the woody portion of fiber bearing plants into short lengths and strip the broken, woody portion from the fiber portion, and means for combing the fiber in constantly the same direction from its root end to its head end with progressingly increasing intensity.

10. In an apparatus for cleaning flax material and the like, sets of breaker rolls and means for causing said rolls to move forward and backward, said forward motion being to a greater extent than said backward motion, and means for feeding the material to the rollers at a rate to cause the material to be crowded through the rolls in bunched condition.

.11. In an apparatus for cleaning flax material and the like, sets of breaker rolls and means for causing said rolls to move forward and backward, said forward motion being to a greater extent than said backward motion, and an apron for feeding the material forward at intermittent motion to push the material forward in crowded condition when the rolls advance.

12. In an apparatus for cleaning flax material and the like, sets of breaker rolls and means for causing said rolls to move forward and backward, said forward motion being to a greater extent than said backward motion, an apron to crowd the material in forward direction, and a spreader device for distributing the material over the feeding mechanism.

13. In an apparatus for cleaning flax ma terial and the like, sets of breaker rolls and means for causing said rolls to move forward and backward, said forward motion being to greater extent than said backward motion, means for spreading and means for crowding the material through the breaker rolls, to thereby cause the material to be fed through the breaker rolls in spread out condition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 10th day of June, A. D.

GEORGE A. LOWRY. 

